Please see my three tips for Wednesday:
Hot To Trot – 4.25 Worcester – 2m 4F Handicap Chase – 100/1 Skybet 4 Places.
I put up Hot To Trot last time out when she ran in a 3 mile handicap hurdle. I was expecting progression from her first run of the season, and she did that by setting off in front at a very strong pace (too strong) until fading three furlongs out.
My first impressions were that connections wanted to give her a really big blow out that would build her race fitness. They certainly did this and I was left thinking if Hot To Trot ran again within 25 days she would probably be brought back to 2m 4F and be worthy of another selection.
Well today it gets really interesting as connections have followed my thinking bringing her back to 2m 4F after 19 days, but they have also sent her over chases for the first time off her handicap mark.
Going chasing is a real positive as she has already won two Point To Points. Over hurdles, she looked an agile fluent jumper.
Hot To Trot is running off a lowly mark of 83 and should improve for the switch to chasing. She is reunited with Tabitha Worsley who won twice on her in point to points and with good ground another positive it all looks like a better run is on the cards.
I’m hoping Tabitha goes from the front and she could just jump them into the ground at massive odds of 100/1 and I therefore recommend 1 point each way.
She is still value at 33/1.
Please read my previous write up below in italics for more background information:
Hot to Trot – 4.25 Bangor – 2m 7F Handicap Hurdle – 50/1 Bet365 – 1 Point Each Way.
The 7 year old Hot to Trot is a winner of two 3 mile point to points and was sent under rules last year.
He ran in maiden hurdles and showed up well on his debut over 2m 4F postmarking 96, but his form tailed off due to suffering from a breathing problem.
He was given his first wind operation and like many horses needed his next run to gain confidence in his breathing and was pulled up. He fell when travelling well on his next start and needed another breathing operation before his seasonal opener this year where again he was pulled up three out.
However, there was a lot to like about Hot To Trot’s last run as he travelled and jumped slickly before being outpaced over the inadequate 2m 4F. He and came under pressure and his breathing was tested before being pulled up. That run will have blown the fitness cobwebs away and was a good confidence booster.
Today he has a real chance as he has been stepped up to a much more suitable trip of almost 3 miles and can now take a step forward on ground that is the same as he won on in his point to points.
He is fairly handicapped mark off 90 and gets another 5lb off for Charlie Price’s claim, so runs off a net 85. Considering he ran to 86 over an inadequate trip on unsuitable ground, there must be considerable upside.
The stable had a recent winner with Charlie in the saddle, so Hot To Trot is well worth chancing at rewarding odds of 50/1 with Bet365.
I therefore recommend 1 point each way.
He is still value at 25/1.
Benny In Milan – 7.00 Worcester – 2m 4F Handicap Hurdle – 66/1 Skybet 4 Places – 1 Point Each Way.
The 10 year old Benny In Milan is a winner of 2 handicap hurdles over 2m 4F plus a NH flat race. Those handicap victories were on good fast summer ground off marks of 108 and 112.
He has been trained in Ireland for the majority of his career (he did travel over to Britain to win his two hurdle races) and he was eventually sold to Stella Barclay’s UK based yard in 2019.
Things haven’t gone well since the move; I suspect he was sold with an injury as he was off for almost 1.5 years before having his run in October 2022. This went well as he ran off 108 and only lost by 15 lengths, postmarking 95 in the process. That was followed by two lesser runs before being put away over the winter months.
Benny In Milan returned this summer and looked badly in need of his first run and on his latest start was sent over 3 miles, which was too far for him. Both runs will definitely have brought his fitness and wellbeing on, and he should now be ready to run his race.
Today he returns to his best trip of 2m 4F and gets ideal good ground at Worcester’s beautifully fair flat track.
Most of Benny’s best runs have been on flat tracks so I’m expecting a return to form, especially now the cheekpieces have been applied for the first time this season,
At 66/1 Benny In Milan looks overpriced and I recommend 1 point each way at 66/1 with Skybet who offer 4 places in this 14 runner event.
He still looks value at 33/1.
Witch From Rome – 8.00 Handicap Hurdle – 2m 7F Handicap Hurdle – 6/1 Bet365 -2 point win.
I put up Witch From Rome two runs ago when she was a 66/1 shot and only lost by 2 lengths. She stayed on late round the tight Newton Abbott course but couldn’t quite get going quick enough up the short run in.
Witch From Rome then ran at today’s Worcester track, and using the same hold up tactics, she came from well off the pace to get up in the final furlong to win readily.
I feel Worcester’s longer home straight really helped Witch From Rome and running off just a 6lb higher mark she is still very well handicapped.
I’m recommending a 2 point win at 6/1 with Bet365 who always go best odds guaranteed.
Take the price, but back with a best odds guaranteed priced bookmaker as I’m expecting her to drift a little as there are larger stables with in form runners that will attract the money.
She still looks value at 11/2.
